There is no dearth of pleasant surprises that welcome you when you step into Himachal. Word "Him" in Hindi means snow or ice and " Alayas" means Home, which makes Himalayas 'The Home of Snow' and from there Himachal gets its name meaning 'Land of Snow'.
Literally. "Snow – Laden Province") is a state in North India. Its area is 55,673 km (21,495 sq mi), and is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west, Haryana on the South- west Uttarakhand on the south- east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east. Hima means snow in Sanskrit, and the literal meaning of the state's name is in the lap of the Himalayas. It was named by Acharya Diwakar Datt Sharma, one of the most eminent Sanskrit scholars of Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal Pradesh is famous for its natural beauty, hill stations and temples. Himachal Pradesh has been ranked FIFTEENTH IN THE LIST OF THE DAY HIGHEST PER CAPITAL INCOME of Indian states and union territories for year 2013-14. There are many perennial rivers flowing in the state with hydroelectric projects set up. Himachal owing to its great hydroelectric potential produce surplus hydroelectric and even sells it to other states such as Delhi, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Hydroelectricity projects tourism, and agriculture from an important part of the state's economy. .
State profile
Source: Department of Information and Public Relations
| Area | 55673 KM |
|---|---|
| TOTAL POPULATION | 6,864,602 |
| MALES | 3,481,873 |
| FEMALES | 3,382,729 |
| POPULATION DESTINY | 123 |
| SEX RATIO | 972 |
| RURAL POPULATION | 6,176,050 |
| URBAN POPULATION | 6,88,552 |
| SCHEDULED CASTE POPULATION | 1,729,252 |
| SCHEDULED TRIBE POPULATION | 392,126 |
| LITERACY RATE | 83.78% |
| MALE LITERACY | 90.83% |
| FEMALE LITERACY | 76.60% |
| DISTRICTS | 12 |
| SUB-DIVISIONS | 62 |
| TEHSILS | 82 |
| SUB-TEHSILS | 35 |
| DEVELOPMENTAL BLOCKS | 77 |
| TOWNS | 59 |
| PANCHAYATS | 3,243 |
| PANCHAYAT SMITIES | 77 |
| ZILA PARISHAD | 12 |
| URBAN LOCAL BODIES | 49 |
| NAGAR NIGAM | 2 |
| NAGAR PARISHADS | 25 |
| NAGAR PANCHAYATS | 23 |
| CENSUS VILLAGES | 20,690 |
| INHABITED VILLAGES | 17,495 |
| HEALTH INSTITUTIONS | 3,866 |
| EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS | 17,000 |
| MOTORABLE ROADS | 33,722km |
| NATIONAL HIGHWAYS | 8 |
| IDENTIFIED HYDROELECTRIC POTENTIAL | 23,000.43 MW in five rivers basins i.e. (Yamuna, Satluj, Beas, ravi, Chenab, and Himruj |
| POTENTIAL HARNESSED | 9000 MW (Approximate) |
| FOOD GRAIN PRODUCTION | 1,579,000 tones |
| VEGETABLE PRODUCTION | 900,000 tones |
| FRUIT PRODUCTION | 1,027,00 tones |
| PER CAPITA INCOME | 1,04,943 (2014-15 expected) |
| SOCIAL SECURITY PENSIONS | 137,250 persons expenditure: over 600 Million |
| INVESTMENT IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS | 237,80 billon employment opportunities |
| EMPLOYMENT GENERATED IN GOVERNMENT SECTOR | 80,000 |